Is It Safe To Eat Your Leftover Food?
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Eating leftover foods can save money and reduce food waste
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But eating leftovers can affect your health as they may already be exposed to bacteria in the environment
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Leftovers can be safe to eat if you follow food safety practices and take the right precautions
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You should put leftover foods in the fridge or freezer within two hours maximum
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Leftovers should be covered in airtight lids that help prevent air from getting to the food. Most pathogens (germs) need oxygen to grow
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Your fridge should be kept at a temperature of between 0 and 5°C. This prevents growth of food poisoning bacteria on leftovers
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Leftover foods must be eaten within two days, as any longer gives harmful bacteria more time to grow
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If you're not going to eat your leftovers within 2 days, then you should freeze them. Leftovers, if frozen at -18°C, can be kept for up to 3 months
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When reheating your leftovers, you should make sure the food is piping hot all the way through
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Leftovers should be reheated to an internal temperature of at least 165°F or 74°C
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You should not reheat leftovers more than once. Each time a food warms and cools, it gives right temperature and time to bacteria to start to re-grow
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